Wild double combination see-saw and merry-o-round apparatus

ABSTRACT

Playground apparatus combining the mechanical movements and entertainment features of a see-saw and a merry-go-round and intended for play with by two or more occupants seated at opposite ends of four radially extending co-planar arms interconnected at their inner ends and having occupant supporting seats affixed to each of their respective outer ends, a fixed pivot fulcrum extending upwardly from a fixed tripod base and engaging the arms at their mutual points of intersection to substantially balance the same and provide for the simultaneous rotating movement and pivotal movement of the arms thereabout, and a stabilizing ring and track member disposed about the base and engagable by wheels disposed on each of the arm members serving to both guide the rotary movement of the arms about the base and to limit the maximum downward movement of any outer end of an arm in a manner to avoid brushing the feet or legs of an occupant of the seat between the seat and the ground.

United States Patent Sharp Oct. 8, 1974 WILD DOUBLE COMBINATION SEE-SAW AND MERRY-GO-ROUND APPARATUS [76] Inventor: George L. Sharp, Rt. 2,

Nicholasville, Ky. 40356 [22] Filed: Jan. 9, 1974 [21] Appl. N0.: 431,932

[52] US Cl. 272/30 [51] Int. Cl A63g l/32 [58] Field of Search 272/30, 54, 55,56, 36, 272/43, 44, 45, 33 R, 33 A, 33 B [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 666,992 1/1901 Wright 272/30 1,764,230 6/1930 Taylor t 272/30 2,113,488 4/1938 Milton et al. 272/30 2,460,026 l/l949 Mitchell 272/30 2,781,193 2/1957 Gowing 272/30 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 408,393 7/1968 Australia 272/33 R 543.92l 6/1922 France v. 272/33 A l7,567 0/1894 Great Britain 272/30 Primary ExaminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer [57] ABSTRACT Playground apparatus combining the mechanical movements and entertainment features of a see-saw.

and a merry-go-round and intended for play with by two or more occupants seated at opposite ends of four radially extending co-planar arms interconnected at their inner ends and having occupant supporting seats affixed to each of their respective outer ends, a fixed pivot fulcrum extending upwardly from a fixed tripod base and engaging the arms at their mutual points of intersection to substantially balance the same and provide for the simultaneous rotating movement and pivotal movement of the arms thereabout, and a stabilizing ring and track member disposed about the base and engagable by wheels disposed on each of the arm members serving to both guide the rotary movement of the arms about the base and to limit the maximum downward movement of any outer end of an arm in a manner to avoid brushing the feet or legs of an occupant of the seat between the seat and the ground.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to playground apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus providing the combined mechanical movements and entertainment features of a see-saw and a merry-go-round intended for use by a plurality of occupants seated on appropriate seats provided therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many of the playground apparatus in use today has little inherent entertainment value thus tending to bore and discourage children from use of the same, with such apparatus also sometimes being tedious to operate because the operation thereof by each child is entirely independent of the operation thereof by another child so thatthere is no cooperative effort or interplay between children playing on the apparatus.

Further, much of the playground apparatus presently available and intended for use by children has been expensive to produce and complicated in construction such that parts thereof become easily damaged or broken by the children during the play thereof, with such parts being difficult and expensive to repair or replace.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the shortcomings of presently available playground apparatus and provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a playground apparatus supporting a plurality of occupants for both rotary and pivotal movement about a fixed fulcrum or pivot point so as to produce a new and unusual movement thereabout which is entertaining to the children riding on the same and with such movement under the full control and interplay of the children riding on the same.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a playground apparatus capable of supporting a plurality of occupants wherein an unusual and entertaining ride is produced.

A further feature of the present invention provides playground apparatus which is safe, provides an unusual motion under the full control of the riders thereof, and is economical to produce.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a playground apparatus capable of supporting two or more occupants and wherein the motion of the apparatus is controlled, regulated; and varied completely by actions of the occupants as to shifting their weight thereon, pushing the same, and the like.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a playground apparatus of a simplev and inexpensive design in which the amusement and recreational features of a see-saw and a merry-go-round are combined to optimum advantage.

Among some of the further features and advantages of the present invention is the provision of a playground apparatus which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods; one which is possessed of few parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order; one which is easy to repair and maintain regardless of the abuses it may suffer at the hands of children playing therewith; one which is of a rugged and durable construction and which therefore will withstand many years of rough usage; one which'is easy to use and reliable and efiicient in operation; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; and one which is otherwise well adapted to perform the services required of it.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS showing the arms of the apparatus supported thereon in different relative positions;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the fixed pivot point as detachably attached to the arms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail thereis illustrated a preferred form of the combination see-saw and merry-go-round apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10 and which is comprised of a tripod base 11 having a stabilizing and track defining ring 12 mounted thereon concentric with a fixed pivot point or fulcrum assembly 13 which pivotally supports the arms 15 thereon for free movement in a direction of rotation about the vertical axis of the pivot point as well as in a swinging motion about the horizontal axis of the pivot point, each of the arms 15 being provided with a wheel assembly 16 adapted to engage track 12 in a manner to limit the downward movement of the outer end of the associated arm to prevent a rider from having his feet or legs squeezed between the outer end of the arm and the ground therebeneath. It is to be understood that the apparatus 10 may be manufactured outof any suitable satisfactory material with metal fabrication being desirable for its strength and durability. v

The tripod base 11 is comprised of a substantially flat circular mounting plate 21 having four tubular legs 22 affixed at angular positions to the circumference thereof and projecting downwardly therefrom in an outward direction to engage the ground surface and with the spacing between the legs retained by horizontal brace members 23 extending therebetween such as seen in the drawings.

The stabilizing ring and track member 12 is disposed concentric with plate 21 and extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the plate and is spaced vertically downwardly therefrom and secured to each of the legs 22, the ring having cylindrical side walls 25 with an annular outwardly projecting radial flange 26 formed integrally therewith and providing the track portion of the ring.

The fixed pivot point of fulcrum 13 is comprised of a solid cylindrical rod 31 mounted centrally of top surface of plate 21 and projecting upwardly therefrom and having formed integrally at the top end thereof a spherical ball 32 which is connected to the body member 31 by an intermediate vertically extending cylindrical shank 33.

A solid block 35 having four arms 36 projecting coplanar outwardly therefrom atright angles to each other is provided and has a top surface 37 and a bottom surface 38, the bottom surface provided with a semispherical recess 39 therein adapted to rotatably receive a portion of the ball 32 therein for pivotable and swinging movement thereabout. Supported on each of the arms 36 is an elongated hollow open ended cylindrical member 41 having one end supported on the associated arm with the opposite end projecting outwardly therefrom in axial alignment therewith. A securing plate 45 is provided having a central aperture 46 and bolt apertures 47 and is adapted to be utilized in conjunction with ball 32 for retaining the ball detachably to the block member 35 with bolts 48 passing through bolt apertures 47 to be threadedly received in the block thus capturing the ball 32 in position between the plate ball aperture 46 and the block recess 39.

Affixed in the projecting free end of each cylindrical tube member 41 is the inner end of a longitudinally elongated tubular arm 45 which projects axially outwardly therefrom and terminates in an outer end portion 46. Each of the outer end portions 46 of the arms 45 are provided'with occupant supporting seats 47 with each seat having associated therewith a handgrip bar 48 of a generally T-shaped configuration which is mounted to the associated arm 45 and projects upwardly therefrom adjacent the associated seat and is adapted to be firmly gripped by an occupant of the seat to prevent the occupant from becoming unseated during play with the apparatus.

Mounted to the underneath portions of each of the arms 45 and oriented for rotation in a direction normal to the axis of the arm are caster wheels 51 pivotally attached by brackets 52 to the associated arm for rotation thereon, each of the wheels spaced outwardly from the inner ends of each arm a distance corresponding to the diameter of the track forming flange 26 on ring 12 so as to engage the flange in a manner to limit the downwardmovement of the outer end portions 46 of each arm thus preventing an occupant from having his legs or feet crushed between the seat and the supporting ground surface.

In the illustrated embodiment, from two ro four occupants may ride the apparatus, with it being preferred that either two or four riders do the riding at any one time in that the most entertaining and unusual movement of the apparatus can be produced if the apparatus is relatively balanced. The occupants seat themselves upon the seats 47 and then by shifting their weight or pushing the apparatus or a combination of the same the arms 45 will tend to move in the direction of the shifted weight or of being pushed. Thus, the movement of the seats 47 may be any combination of vertical, horizontal and rotary movement about the fixed pivot point 32. Thus, an action similar to a see-saw may be produced by rocking movement of the arms about the fixed pivot point, or an action similar. to a merry-go-round can be produced by rotating the seats about the vertical axis of the fixed pivot point, or any combination of the two movements can be produced which is usually the case with the seats moving simultaneously in a somewhat orbital and oscillatory path in their up-and-down movement as rotating about the fixed pivot point.

In this regard it is to be understood that the move ment of the seats of the apparatus may be solely vertical, solely horizontal, solely rotary, or any combination thereof providing the unusual and entertaining ride produced by the apparatus of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A combination see-saw and merry-go-round apparatus comprising:

a fixed base comprised of a supporting plate having a plurality of leg members diverging outwardly and downwardly therefrom at angularly spaced intervals thereabout to engage a supporting ground surface in a manner to support said supporting plate a vertical distance from the ground;

pivot means having one end affixed to said supporting plate with the opposite end projecting vertically upwardly therefrom and terminating in a spherical ballv member;

a combination stabilizing ring and track defining member disposed concentric with said supporting plate and spaced vertically downwardly therefrom and secured to said leg portions, the plane of said ring being parallel to and spaced downwardly from the plane of said supporting plate, said ring comprising a cylindrical side wall surface having an annular outwardly projecting radially extending flange formed about the bottom edge thereof and defining a track portion on the top surface thereof;

four perpendicularly disposed longitudinally elongated arms lying in a common plane, said arms each having their inner ends interconnected with each other with each arm having an outer end projecting axially outwardly from said inner end, said inner ends being mutually interconnected at a common junction;

an occupant supporting seat affixed to said outer end of each of said arms;

a semi-spherical recess defined at said common junction of said interconnected inner ends of said arms, said recess being defined in a lower surface of said junction and adapted to be received on said spherical member to provide for free rotation of said arms about the vertical axis of said spherical member and free rocking type movement of said arms about the horizontal axis of said spherical member; and

a wheel member mounted on each of the arms for rotation in a plane normal to the axis of the associated arm, each wheel member disposed intermediate its associated arm and said flange forming track portion, each wheel mounted on said arm a distance spaced outwardly from said common junction to engage said track portion when said associated arm swings downwardly relative to said fixed pivot point with the wheel engaging the track portion and thereby limiting the downward movement of said outer end of said arm and the associated seats thereon to prevent an individuals feet and legs from being trapped and crushed intermediate the seat and the supporting ground surface.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said common junction is comprised of a block member having a top surface and a bottom surface and side surfaces with arm portions formed integrally with said side surfaces and projecting radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, said block bottom surface having said semi-spherical recess formed therein adapted to be supportingly received on said ball member; a hollow open ended cylindrical member associated with each arm portion and having one end affixed thereto with the opposite end projecting axially outwardly therefrom; and each arm having its inner end portion affixed to the projecting end of an associated cylindrical member and extending axially outwardly therefrom.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a retaining plate member of a substantially flat configuration and having a ball engaging aperture defined centrally thereof with bolt receiving apertures disposed at spaced intervals thereabout, said ball aperture to engage the circumferal edges of the lower portion of said ball member when said ball is engaged in said recess with said plate engaging said bottom surface of said junction block member, and a plurality of bolts each associated with one of said bolt apertures and adapted to extend axially therethrough to attach said retaining plate to said bottom surface of said junction member thus capturing said ball member between said plate and said recess to retain said ball member in said recess.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said base further comprises a plurality of substantially horizontally extending brace member interconnecting leg portions of the base for strengthening and rigidifying the base.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a T-shaped gripping handle affixed to each arm a short distance inwardly of each seat mounted on the outer end of each arm with said gripping handle projecting upwardly therefrom and adapted to be gripped by an occupant of the seat to prevent the occupant from becoming unseated. 

1. A combination see-saw and merry-go-round apparatus comprising: a fixed base comprised of a supporting plate having a plurality of leg members diverging outwardly and downwardly therefrom at angularly spaced intervals thereabout to engage a supporting ground surface in a manner to support said supporting plate a vertical distance from the ground; pivot means having one end affixed to said supporting plate with the opposite end projecting vertically upwardly therefrom and terminating in a spherical ball member; a combination stabilizing ring and track defining member disposed concentric with said supporting plate and spaced vertically downwardly therefrom and secured to said leg portions, the plane of said ring being parallel to and spaced downwardly from the plane of said supporting plate, said ring comprising a cylindrical side wall surface having an annular outwardly projecting radially extending flange formed about the bottom edge thereof and defining a track portion on the top surface thereof; four perpendicularly disposed longitudinally elongated arms lying in a common plane, said arms each having their inner ends interconnected with each other with each arm having an outer end projecting axially outwardly from said inner end, said inner ends being mutually interconnected at a common junction; an occupant supporting seat affixed to said outer end of each of said arms; a semi-spherical recess defined at said common junction of said interconnected inner ends of said arms, said recess being defined in a lower surface of said junction and adapted to be received on said spherical member to provide for free rotation of said arms about the vertical axis of said spherical member and free rocking type movement of said arms about the horizontal axis of said spherical member; and a wheel member mounted on each of the arms for rotation in a plane normal to the axis of the associated arm, each wheel member disposed intermediate its associated arm and said flange forming track portion, each wheel mounted on said arm a distance spaced outwardly from said common junction to engage said track portion when said associated arm swings downwardly relative to said fixed pivot point with the wheel engaging the track portion and thereby limiting the downward movement of said outer end of said arm and the associated seats thereon to prevent an individual''s feet and legs from being trapped and crushed intermediate the seat and the supporting ground surface.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said common junction is comprised of a block member having a top surface and a bottom surface and side surfaces with arm portions formed integrally with said side surfaces and projecting radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, said block bottom surface having said semi-spherical recess formed therein adapted to be supportingly received on said ball member; a hollow open ended cylindrical member associated with each arm portion and having one end affixed thereto with the opposite end projecting axially outwardly therefrom; and each arm having its inner end portion affixed to the projecting end of an associated cylindrical member and extending axially outwardly therefrom.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further comprising a retaining plate member of a substantially flat configuration and having a ball engaging aperture defined centrally thereof with bolt receiving apertures disposed at spaced intervals thereabout, said ball aperture to engage the circumferal edges of the lower portion of said ball member when said ball is engaged in said recess with said plate engaging said bottom surface of said junction block member, and a plurality of bolts each associated with one of said bolt apertures and adapted to extend axially therethrough to attach said retaining plate to said bottom surface of said junction member thus capturing said ball member between said plate and said recess to retain said ball member in said recess.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said base further comprises a plurality of substantially horizontally extending brace member interconnecting leg portions of the base for strengthening and rigidifying the base.
 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a T-shaped gripping handle affixed to each arm a short distance inwardly of each seat mounted on the outer end of each arm with said gripping handle projecting upwardly therefrom and adapted to be gripped by an occupant of the seat to prevent the occupant from becoming unseated. 